Ax.



* Patented Nov. I9, |90I.

A. ERICKSON. l y

(Application medV June -5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.y

ANTHONY ERICKSON, OF PRINCE ALBERT, CANADA.

SPECIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent No. 687,138, dated November 19, 1901. Application filed Tune 5, 1901. Serial No. 63,177. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Prince Albert, county of Saskatchewan, North-West Territories, Canada, haveV invented certain new and useful Improvements in Axes; and I do hereby declare thatl the following is a full, clear, and exact dehead to the handle to suit the requirements of the user, to secure a proper hang or balance of the implement, to afford protection to the handle at a point near the head and thereby minimize the tendency of the handle to break, to enable the position of the axhead to be changed in a few moments of time instead of requiring from an hour to one hour and a half, to promote the strength and durability of the device, and to make the appliance economical of manufacture.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings hereto annexed, forming a part of this specilcation, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an ax having its head fastened to the helve in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the ax-head in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a cross-section on the line 3 3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the tightenerwedge, representing the same in its inverted positionin order` to more clearly show the construction thereof. of the pressure or tension rod. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the protector sleeve or band. Fie. 7 is a detail perspective View of the tightener-key.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View.

The same numerals of reference denote like parts in each of the several igures of the drawings. Y

5 designates the ax-head,and 6 is the handle or helve, said ax-head being provided with an eye 7, and all of these parts being of the usual or any preferred construction.

One of the important featuresof my inven- 6o tion is the tightener-wedge 8. (Shown in detail by Fig.`4 and in its operative position by Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.) This tightener-wedge is made o-r formed in-a single piece of mallelable metal and tapered slightly at its opera- 6 5 tive end, so as to form the inclined working face 9, while the other portion of the wedge lis tapered sharply, as at 10, in order that it may conform to the curvature of the handle gracefully. This tightenerA-Wedge is made 7o vsolid at one endby the provision of an integral lug 1l, the same being formed with a female threaded aperture 12. Furthermore,

`the tightener-wedge is made hollow or chambered from the solid end lug 1l to the-oppo- 75 site end of the sharplytapered portion 10 thereof, except for the provision of the reinforcement 13, which is made integral with the sides of the hollow wedge and serves to prevent cbllapsing thereof, said reinforcement 8o having a curved face 13a. (See Figs. 1 and 4.)

In the embodiment of the invention shown by the drawings the sharply-curved end 10 of the tightener-wedge is provided with a longitudinal slot 14, the same adapted to receive a 8 5 pressure or tension rod 15. (See Figs. 1 to 5.) This rod is beveled at one end, as at 16, and it is undercut or notched in order to form an inclined lip 17, said lip being shorter than the nose, which is formed by the beveled end 9o 16 of the rod. Said rod is arranged in the chambered portion of the tightener-wedge, so as to'have its nose 16 project through the slot 14, while the lip 17 fits within the slotted porltion of the wedge in such a way as to coperate' with the nose 16 in order to connect the` pressure or tension rod to the tightener-wedge detachably. It is essential that the tension or pressure rod shall occupy an inclined relaforcing the same into tight frictional engagel Ewij A e ment with the wall of the eye Z in the toolhead. Although I have shown and described a preferred construction for detachably connecting the pressure-rod to the tightenerwedge, I do not strictly limit myself to this embodiment of the invention, because I am aware that the pressure-rod may be made fast to the tightener-wedge-as, for example, by welding the rod to the wedge or by riveting the parts together.

18 designates a fastening and adjusting screw which is provided with an enlarged head 1S, that is adapted to bear against a washer 19, the latter beinginterposed between the screw-head and the aX-head 5 and the end of the handle 6. (See Fig. l.) The shank of this screw is quite long, and it is adapted to have threaded engagement with the female threaded opening 12 in the solid end lug 11 of the tightener-wedge, said screw-shank arranged to occupy the space between said end lu g and the reinforcement 13 of the ti ghtenerwedge, as shown by Fig. 2.

20 designates a protector sleeve or band, the same being preferably made in a single piece of malleable metal and arranged to lit around the helve or handle 6, so as to cover and protect the same for some distance in rcar of the ax-head 5. One side of this protector band or sleeve is inclined, as at 21, and provided with a notch at 22, (see Fig. 6,) and this notched inclined side of the sleeve is adapted to have the pressure or tension rod 15 thrust therethrough, as shown by Fig. 1, whereby the rod serves lto hold the protector band against displacement on the handle and is also made to react against the tightenerwedge for the purpose of fitting the latter tightly into the eye of the axle.

23 designates the key. (Shown by Fig. 7.) Said key is provided with a grooved underface l arranged to snugly conform to the edge of the helve 6, and said key is forced into place between the helve and the lug 11 and reinforcement 13 of the tightenerwed ge. (See Fig. 1.)

In assembling the parts of my improved fastening the protector band or sleeve 2O is first adjusted on the aX-handle in a manner to allow sufficient room for the reception of the aX-head. The pressure-rod 15 is now engaged with the slotted end of the tightenerwedge, and this wedge is adjusted to the axhandle in a manner for the pressure-rod to enter the notched and inclined side of the' protector-band. The tightener is now pressed forward until its lug l1 is practically in iush relation with the end of the handle and then the ax is adjusted for its eye to receive the handle and the front end of the tightenerwedge. The operator now drives the key 23 into place between the handle and the wedge and the bolt or screw 18 is then inserted into place. In disconnecting the parts for the purpose of reversing the ax the bolt or screw is iirst removed and the tightener-wedge is tapped a little until the air-head becomes loose on the handle, thus facilitating the disconnection of the parts.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a tool of the class described, the combination with a handle and a tool-head, of a tightener-wedge itting the eye of the tool head and having a pressure device seated upon the handle, and a supplementalfastening connecting the tightener-wedge with the handle or toolhead, substantially as described.

2. In a tool of the class described, the combination with a handle and a tool-head, of a tightener-wedge engagingthe eye of the toolhead, a pressure-rod engaging with the tightenerwedge and the handle, and supplemental fasteniugs for connecting said tightenerwedge with the handle or tool-head, substan tially as described.

3. In a tool of the class described, the combination with a handle and a tool-head, of a tightener-wedge, a protector band or sleeve fitted to the handle, a pressure-rod engaging the tightener-wedge and the protector-band and seated upon the handle, and supplemental fastenings for connecting the tightener-` wedge with the handle, substantially as de scribed.

4. In a tool of the class described, the com bination with a handle and a tool-head, of a protector band or sleeve having a notched and an inclined side and litted upon the handle., a tightener-wedge, a pressure-rod connected to the tightener-wedge and having engagement with the inclined side of the protectorband and with the handle, and supplemental fastenings for connecting said tightenerwedge with the handle or the tool-head, substantially as described.

5. In a tool of the class described, the combination with a handle and a tool-head, of a chambered tightener-wedge having a threaded bearing, a pressure device between the handle and the tightener-wedge, ascrewseated against a washer and connected with the threaded bearing of the tightener-wedge, and a key, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY ERICKSON.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH READ, P. J. FLANAGAN.'

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